Australia’s future marine scientists are getting a boost from a new training program set to transform CSIRO’s science research vessel the RV Investigator into a floating classroom.

[Music plays and text appears: Marine National Facility]

[Images flash through of the Investigator at dock, a female carrying a box, two people lifting equipment and text appears: RV Investigator Voyage to Heard Island & McDonald Islands]

[Images flash through of the Investigator being loaded]

[Image changes to show a male pointing at a map on the wall and then the image changes to show a male working on the deck of the Investigator and then the camera zooms in on another male’s face]

[Images flash through of a crane winching up a ramp, people walking along the side of the Investigator, a rope floating in the water and a female standing on the ship and looking at the harbour]

[Image changes to show the CSIRO sign on the side of the ship]

[Image changes to show people listening to a male talking inside the ship and then the camera zooms in on the male’s face]

[Images flash through of employees deploying a piece of marine scientific equipment and then the image changes to show the equipment plunging beneath the surface of the water]

[Images flash through of a female laughing, a male walking along the deck, two males with a piece of marine science equipment and then the image changes to show the equipment being deployed beneath the water]

[Image changes to show a view from the cabin of the ship as it moves through the water]

[Image changes to show a male carrying a box and then the image shows the box being deployed into the water and being towed behind the ship]

[Images flash through of a piece of marine science equipment labelled “Nemo” and then a multi corer being deployed]

[Image changes to show a female calling out to others on the deck of the ship]

[Image changes to show people in the Operations Room of the ship and then the camera zooms in on the computer screens they are looking at and then the camera zooms in on three scientists looking at a computer screen]

[Image changes to show people on the deck of the ship deploying a piece of marine science equipment and then the camera zooms in on the equipment as it plunges beneath the surface of the water]

[Images flash through of a male looking through a telescope, an albatross soaring through the air, the Investigator cutting through the water, a multicorer being deployed and the multicorer as it travels underwater]

[Image changes to show two males in an equipment room, a male looking over the stern of the ship, an upward view of a winch winching up the multicorer, three males operating the winch on deck and a piece of marine science equipment being deployed]

[Images flash through of two males at a computer screen, the computer screen display, a room of people looking at computers and then the camera zooms in on some of their faces]

[Images flash through of a woman knitting, a map, a piece of marine science equipment being deployed and males walking along the deck]

[Image changes to show a male displaying a rock and then the camera zooms in on rocks in the bucket he is holding]

Male 1: [inaudible 01:18]

[Image changes to show another male talking to the camera]

Male 2: We’d better move on.

[Images flash through of a view from the bow of the ship of islands and a male looking through the bridge window]

Male 3: Land Ho.

[Image changes to show a view of the islands and then images flash through of a male taking a photo, a group of people at the bridge window and then a view from the outside of the bridge looking in at the people]

[Image changes to show a view of the island and then images flash through of computer screen readings]

[Image changes to show the islands through the bridge window and then the image changes to show a rotating computer screen display]

[Image changes to show the island and then images flash through of the Investigator heading towards the island, a male in the engine room, the deck of the Investigator and a male looking through a telescope]

[Image changes to show a male in the bridge talking to the camera and then images flash through of the ocean and the islands]

[Image changes to show a female talking and then images flash through of pieces of marine science equipment being deployed and hauled back up on to the ship]

Female: Oh, the plume.

[Images flash through of a gull, a hand, a multi corer being hauled onto the deck, a person on deck drawing the islands, people hauling in a piece of marine science equipment and a male operating the winch]

[Image changes to show the piece of marine science equipment plunging beneath the water, a hand turning over a piece of coral, a male talking to the camera and a map]

Male 2: Troglodytes.

[Images flash through of the ocean, the snow covered island, a volcano and people looking at the volcano from the deck of the ship]

[Images flash through of the island]

[Images flash through of people looking at the computer screen display]

[Images flash through of people in the laboratory and a male talking to the camera]

Male 5: Submarine volcanoes.

[Images flash through of a male looking out of a roller door, specimens in a blue tub, a map displayed on a computer screen, computer screen displays rotating in an anticlockwise direction and a map of Australia and the islands]

[Image changes to show scientists at work on the ship, a male working on the deck, a female waving from the deck, a rainbow and a snow covered volcano]

[Image changes to show a sample from the ocean floor being dropped on the deck]

[Images flash through of a female carrying a blue tub, a multi corer being deployed, a female laughing and a gull flying through the air]

[Image changes to show the side of the Investigator and then the image changes to show spray over the bow of the ship and then the camera zooms up on to the deck of the ship]

[Image changes to show a female and male inside the dining room, a male looking out the window and a male walking in the engine room]

[Image changes to show samples being dropped into a white plastic bucket, a female looking up, a group of scientists looking into a white bucket and then the camera zooms in on the sample in the bucket and then the camera zooms in on one of the scientists]

Male 6: Sifting black mud.

[Images flash through of two people lifting canisters, a piece of marine science equipment being deployed, a female cleaning a CSIRO canister with high pressure cleaner, a net being winched aboard and a male giving the thumbs up signal]

[Image changes to show the seascape and then images flash through of a multicorer being deployed, people in the bridge, a male working in the ship, a female laughing, a multi corer being lowered beneath the water and dolphins at play]

[Marine National Facility and CSIRO logos and text appears: Marine National Facility, Supporting, enabling and inspiring marine science, owned and operated by CSIRO on behalf of Australia]

Additional Resources

The unique program will give students and trainers dedicated time on board the Marine National Facility research vessel Investigator and expose them to a range of world class scientific equipment and technology.

Macquarie University’s Dr Leanne Armand, program coordinator for CAPSTAN, said this was one of the most exciting programs she has been involved with.

“We’re extremely pleased with this collaboration with CSIRO Marine National Facility, and this program will change the landscape of marine science education in Australia,” Dr Armand said.

“We can’t wait until the first students are on board and get underway on their voyage – it’s an exceptional project and groundbreaking partnership between Australian research institutions, industry and our nation’s leading science agency.”

The CAPSTAN program will complement other marine science education activities that CSIRO provides including ship tours for students and a training program that will put secondary school teachers on board Investigator alongside scientists conducting marine research.

Using Investigator’s high-tech capabilities, teachers and trainers on board are even able to share their experiences with students across Australia through live ship-to-shore video broadcasts.

The education and training programs enabled by Investigator aim to help train future generations of Australia’s marine scientists and mariners, and inspire studies in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

“Enabling marine education and training is an important role not just for Investigator and CSIRO, but also for Australia,” Mr Plaschke said.

“The students involved in CAPSTAN will be well positioned to become Australia’s future generation of marine scientists and mariners.

“They will be the people supporting marine research and making discoveries that will help Australia meet future challenges in managing our vast marine estate."

The first participants in the CAPSTAN program are expected to join a transit voyage on Investigator later next year.

The CAPSTAN application process is expected to open in early 2017 and further details are available on the program website .

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Additional information

Photo and interview opportunity

Media are invited to a photo and interview opportunity at 1:45pm on Wednesday, 10 August at the CSIRO Marine Laboratories at Battery Point (on rotunda in front of Investigator).

Ron Plaschke, Director of the Marine National Facility, will speak about the training opportunities Investigator enables and a photo opportunity will be provided with visiting Rosny College maritime students undertaking a ship tour.